Evaluate & strengthen coordination staff capacity
One of the GWC minimum requirement is that “Cluster/sector at national level is adequately staffed and is proportional to the size of the needs for coordination”. After a new crisis, coordination platform team must be set up, with clear job description/terms of reference for each team member. Staff can be deployed / recruited by UNICEF or by GWC Stand-by Partners, a group of NGO funded by donors to have staff available for WASH coordination related rapid deployment. A 2 to 3 months temporary assignment from a GWC Stand-by partners staff can be requested by UNICEF country office, for capacity building purpose or to allow time to recruit someone for a longer period.
Once formed, the coordination team must define ways to work together and share documents and information between them. Internet connectivity is available during most disasters and many useful tools exist to stay in contact with the coordination platform colleagues, such as Skype, WhatsApp, Slack, Vyber, etc…whatever communication tool is selected, try and keep communication to a minimum and share key information only.